Just A Moment

“Thank you, Madison Square Garden!” Niall threw his hands up with the boys and yelled to the screaming audience. Then they ran off backstage as the band played them out.

“Soooo my life is basically complete now.” Mackenzie said over the screams around us.

“I can literally die happy now!” Alyssa hadn’t been able to stop smiling ever since Harry smiled at her during Kiss You.

“I just- I don’t- I have no words.” Kylie was practically bouncing with excitement.

“I need food right now.” I said with a straight face.

Everyone kind of just looked at me, but I just stood there. I honestly was starving and Mother Nature was being cruel and I needed food that instant.

“No, but really guys, I want food-” I was in the middle of my insistence when I felt a firm hand on my shoulder and jumped from surprise.

I turned to see a large man that I recognized from backstage before dressed in a black muscle t-shirt and black pants with an earpiece looking down at the four of us. “I’ve been told to bring you backstage.” He yelled over the remaining buzz of the audience.

We all followed him in silence back through a door to the backstage area where we’d been before. We passed what remained of the snack table we’d demolished before, but a withered turkey finger sandwich caught my eye.

“Just a second!” I tried to dash over to it, but was stopped by that firm arm again.

“I’m sorry, Miss, but my orders are to bring you directly to the boys’ dressing room.”

I gave him the evil eye for a moment before following his direction and falling into step with Mackenzie.

“Sooo Hannah just saw One Direction in concert and all she can think about is food this is why we aren’t friends?” Mackenzie made a face.

“You hush, child!” I stuck a finger in her face, not being in the mood to be messed with, but I let a smile sweep across my face. “I am incredibly emotional right now and you know I’m a stress eater!”

“Girl, please, I am right there with you I just want a bag or Twizzlers or chips or something.” Mackenzie shook her head.

“Is this why you and Niall are so…” Kylie turned and waggled her eyebrows at me.

“Oh my god I know exactly what you’re talking about the two of you oh my god Hannah!” Alyssa turned with a smile.

“You guys are crazy…” I shook my head, rolling my eyes & trying to hold back the blush I could feel rising within me.

“Except not really!” Mackenzie squinted.

“If anything it would be that I could eat just like Niall right now!” I retorted with a chuckle.

I suddenly felt two arms fasten around my waist and a chin rest on my shoulder, saying, “I wouldn’t be throwing words like that around! Them words could get you into some trouble you don’t want to face!”

I spun around and was suddenly staring into the brightest pair of blue eyes that I’d ever seen. Letting my hands press defiantly against his chest I replied, “When it comes to food, I don’t ‘throw’ words around! I mean what I say!” with a smile.

He stepped away from me only to sling his good arm around my waist and lead me to the dressing room where everyone else was headed, saying on the way, “Well, we’re just going to have to test that!”

“Why do I have a bad feeling about this?” I groaned, feeling my stomach rumble.

Niall let out a laugh. “Because you’re in for it!” He answered as we entered the room.

“Honestly, I wouldn’t even consider this if I wasn’t so fucking hungry!” I blurted, my eyes widening at the small basket of goodies on the table. They were in the basket - the very small basket, mind you - that was sitting not two feet from me. “Is that seriously all the food that you guys have in here?” I pointed helplessly towards the basket.

“Uh, yeah, but it’s mostly wrappers and empty boxes of sweets cuz Niall was hungry before the show.” Zayn appeared from behind the door, munching on a Snickers bar. “And, I mean, these American chocolate bars? They’re not really much to talk about.” He shrugged, taking another huge bite out of it.

“Niall James Horan I swear if there is nothing left in that basket…” I threatened over my shoulder as I dug into the basket, desperately trying to find SOMETHING to eat.

Yeah I get kind of crazy when it comes down to my food.

“Ooo she broke out the middle name!” I could see Harry grinning and pointing to me, looking like an amused child.

“I wouldn’t try too hard, love, pretty sure that Zayn took the last of it.” Louis piped from the couch where he was stretched out with Mackenzie. Those two seemed to be getting along really well…

I froze as I discovered that he was right. Slowly, I stood to my full 5’6” (impressive right) and looked up into Zayn’s amber eyes.

“Is that the last of the food in this room?” I said lowly.

“Uhhh yeah?” He drawled around a mouthful of Snickers. I swear, my mouth was watering just thinking about it…

“Ohh, man, you are so in for it!” Niall laughed from behind me.

“What’s going on?” I heard Liam enter the room but never looked away from Zayn.

“Hannah’s raging hungry and Zayn has the last of the snacks.” Harry updated Liam in that slow manner of his.

“Well, can’t we just go out and get food?” Liam shrugged. I could finally feel his eyes on me and Zayn for the first time. “Oh. I see.”

“I don’t understand why you’re just standing there staring at me.” Zayn said after he had swallowed. It was then that I saw the playful glint in his eyes.

“Oh, you understand exactly why I’m standing here staring at you!” I practically growled.

“Well, ugh, you could just ask for a bite, you know!” He held the bar above my head and went into full ‘Let’s Torture Hannah and Tease the Cheeseballs Outta Her’ mode.

“Are you kidding me?” I looked at him in annoyance.

“C’mon! Ask me nicely!” Not gonna lie, the way he said ‘nicely’ gave me butterflies. Damn those beautiful accents…

“Oh, there’s no way.” I shook my head.

“Then you’re not getting it!” He said bringing the bar slowly to his lips. “There it goooes… And you can’t have any…!”

“For heaven’s sake, you’re behaving like children!” Liam’s hand was suddenly between us, wrenching the candy bar from Zayn’s hands.

“Hey!” Zayn cried indignantly.

“Ugh, thank you!” I sighed in relief, holding my hand out to Liam.

“Oh, no! No, no, no!” Liam shook his head at me and Zayn before stuffing the rest of the Snickers bar in his mouth.

“LIAM!” I shouted before jumping at him. “DO YOU UNDERSTAND HOW HUNGRY I AM? I HAVEN’T EATEN IN SEVEN HOURS! SEVEN!”

“Seven fucking hours?” I heard Niall exclaim. Before I knew what was happening, a strong arm was around me, pulling me away from Liam. I looked up to see Niall looking down at me with an amused smile. “We are going to get food NOW!”

“YES!” I shouted, already heading for the door. “Is anybody else coming?”

“I want food!” Harry was already by my side, holding the door for me.

“Food sounds good!” Louis hopped up and straightened his shirt.

“I would love to, but my mom expected me home, like, two hours ago!” Mackenzie bit her lip, looking at the clock on the wall.

“Aw poop!” Louis’ face fell a bit. “I actually liked hanging out with you!”

She visibly perked up at his words. “Well then we’ll just have to hang out again?” she said tentatively.

“Of course, love!” Louis took her in a hug. I turned to Alyssa & Kylie, giving the other two a moment.

“We’re going with Mackenzie…” Kylie said reluctantly.

“Well, we’ll just have to see you lovely girls again sometime soon, ok?” Harry smiled, to which all three nodded.

“Al, do you need a ride home?” I turned to my sister.

“I’m going home with Rachel. She came to the concert and hasn’t left yet, so I’m just gonna go meet her out front.” Allie responded.

“Okay, well at least let us walk you all out?” Liam offered.

“You coming with us Liam?” I asked.

“I dunno. You hurt my feelings, attacking me back there.” He sniffled.

“Well you did take our Snickers bar!” Zayn was suddenly at my side, looking reproachfully at Liam.

“Our?” I squinted at Zayn.

“Well-”

“Just hush!” I held a finger to his lips. “You coming or what, Liam?”

“Yeah, it was my idea, wasn’t it?” He smiled as if it was obvious.

“Alright! Well, let’s get a move on!” I hopped a bit impatiently.

“Let’s go!” Niall took my wrist and began dragging me out the door. We all began walking down the hallway towards the exit, surrounded by guards. Suddenly, a large figure stopped in front of us, arms crossed and not looking very happy.

“And where do you boys think you’re going?”

“Paul!” I said. Images of the long, bloody gash he’d had on his leg just after the bus crash came flooding through my mind. I stuttered on my next words, disturbed by the images. “I-I mean, Mr. Higgins.”

He gave me an appraising look. “Miss Clarke, how are you?”

I was surprised by his words. “You- You know who I am?”

“May I just point out, Hannah, that practically the entire One Direction fandom knows who you are?” Harry smiled charmingly at me.

“Oh…” I blushed.

“Is she blushing?” Liam piped up from beside me.

“Aw, look at those rosy cheeks!” Zayn, on the other side of me, pinched my cheek affectionately.

“Stop it!” I batted his hand away.

“Aw, I missed it?” Niall popped over Liam’s shoulder. While he had originally led me out of the dressing room, Liam and Zayn had gotten caught up in a story about some tour bus squabble they’d had just before the crash and pushed the little Irishman out of the way.

“Going back to my original question, where exactly are you boys headed?” Paul cut back in impatiently.

“We’re hungry!” Niall pushed Liam out of the way.

“Niall, you’re always hungry. That doesn’t answer my question?”

I suppressed a giggle as Zayn replied, “C’mon, Paul, we’re all starving and wanted to head out for a late night snack and a good time!”

“Do I honestly need to remind you of the several events that you have planned tomorrow?” Paul’s stance never changed.

“We understand, Paul, really we do. And I promise that me and Hannah will have us all back to her house by a decent hour and up in time tomorrow. You can come with us if you like? And we’ll take the necessary security, too!” Liam stepped forward and reasoned with the bigger man.

“Yes, sir, from what I’ve seen, no one is more responsible than those two,” Allie piped up from behind me, motioning to Liam and I. Paul eyed her briefly.

“And what vehicles are you planning on taking?”

“Hannah has her creeper van!” Harry smiled. “No one really knows it and it’d blend in and such.” I nudged him gently at the word ‘creeper’.

“You boys are aware that it’s almost eleven, yeah?” A collective groan arose from the boys as the debating continued.

A few minutes later, when all the kinks with security had been worked out, we had left Allie in her friend Rachel’s mom’s capable hands. After a few pictures with Rachel and then my other three friends (which turned into more socializing than actual picture taking), the boys and I were headed to the parking garage that I had stowed my van in with a minimal security team.

“So where were you planning on taking us?” Harry asked, immediately claiming shotgun.

“Where was I planning on taking you?” I looked at him dubiously.

“Yeah! You’re driving, after all!” Louis piped, pushing Harry into me as he scooted into shotgun. I had one of those three-across front seats, so it was acceptable. Well, almost.

“Ugh, well, what do you want?” I asked, turning the van on patiently.

“Well you’re the one that’s raging hungry! Just go wherever you want to!” Liam countered Louis kindly.

“Damn, I just wish that we weren’t so far from Kearney…” I said under my breath as I backed up. “There’s this little place that’s- ZAYN!” I stomped on my breaks as my eyes caught the Bradford boy sitting on the floor between Liam and Niall’s middle seats. I had taken out the 3rd middle seat awhile ago because I liked the more open feel.

“What?” He asked innocently.

“Get into a real seat!” I pointed to the back.

“But it’s so far away from everyone…” He whined like a child. “I’ll be all alooone…”

“Oh, my god, Zayn Malik, get your ass into a seatbelt!” I raised my voice, emphasizing my arm pointing to the backseats.

“Ooo, sassy!” Harry teased me.

“Don’t you interfere, Styles!” I shot him a sidelong glare, shocking him into silence.

“What if I don’t want to?” Zayn taunted with a smile.

“Then you can freaking walk! I am not even kidding you, I do not have time for your rockstar diva attitude right now! You may be able to get away with stupid shit like that somewhere else but I will not put up with those kind of childish actions from anyone!” I was almost yelling now and surprised myself at the volatility of my words.

“Just cool it, Hannah! Jeez, it was just a joke…” Zayn put his hands up, confusion, frustration and annoyance clouding his eyes. “I’ll sit in the bloody backseat, just calm the fuck down…”

I squared my jaw and shook my head slightly, giving him one last glare before turning back to man the wheel. We drove in silence for a minute before Harry turned tentatively to me and said lowly, “Would you mind if I turned on some music?”

I let my anger out in a whoosh of air and smiled genuinely at his considerate demeanor, replying, “Sure, Harry!”

I was rewarded with a signature Styles smile and a lightening of the tension in the car. As Coldplay’s Viva La Vida came on, with a cry of appreciation from Liam and Niall, I leaned just a bit closer to Harry and said lowly, “Hey, I’m sorry for snapping at you back there. You didn’t do anything to deserve that.” I felt bad for letting my anger affect the way I’d spoken to him.

“You don’t have to apologize Hannah.” He put a hand on mine and looked at me. I turned briefly to meet his eyes with mine. “I saw the fear in your eyes.” I looked away as quickly as I had met his eyes. “I know what you were thinking.”

After a brief moment of labored quiet between us, I said quietly so that no one would hear other than Harry, “Yeah, well, I’m sorry either way.”

I didn’t want to talk about it-

“Oh, so he gets an apology and I’m just sitting here-” Zayn interrupted my thoughts rudely. I couldn’t even believe he had the nerve to speak after practically cussing me out.

“Um, did I say you could speak?” I met his sizzling eyes in the rearview mirror after taking a turn onto 7th.

“Now you’re limiting my speech privileges? What is this, fucking kindergarten?”

“Don’t you use that language in my car, Zayn Malik!” My voice was even more raised than before. I didn’t know why I was getting so angry…

“Well you-”

“Zayn.” Liam stopped Zayn, only letting me hear the beginning of what sounded to be a fiery and angry retort. I looked in the rearview mirror again to see Zayn looking out the window, smoldering. My heart hurt a bit, looking at the boy that I felt I could tell almost anything looking so angry at me.

It just made me angrier.

Notes